£83k project transforms Brecon green space

An £83,000 project to improve access to a popular Brecon green space and protect its wildlife has begun.

Brecon Town Council was awarded the funding through the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature programme in July.

Work at Island Fields includes removing invasive species such as Himalayan balsam and snowberry, which can threaten native plants and woodland habitats.

A dedicated team of volunteers has been at the heart of the project.

Volunteers are also clearing overgrown vegetation, creating new paths, opening up areas which had become inaccessible and removing litter.

Sessions are held on the first and third Thursday of each month, with Brecon Town Council working alongside Brecon Volunteer Bureau.

The project will also see woodland habitats restored and a wildflower meadow created to provide food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.

The Brecon Beacons Local Nature Partnership is supporting the project by helping promote the area’s rich wildlife and biodiversity, while encouraging local people to connect with nature and take part in conservation activities.

Brecon’s Mayor Councillor Sian Drinan said she was pleased to see the project bringing local groups together for a good cause.

She said: “Island Fields has long been a place enjoyed and cherished by the local community and it's truly heartwarming to see how the work being undertaken there by volunteers, Brecon Volunteer Bureau, Brecon Town Council and the Brecon Beacons Local Nature Partnership will ensure that it remains protected and enjoyed by the community now and for generations to come. Diolch yn fawr pawb.”

Councillors hope the improvements will create a more accessible, attractive and wildlife-friendly space that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, providing benefits for both people and nature for years to come.

For more information about volunteering opportunities, contact Brecon Town Councilor Brecon Volunteer Bureau.